As the clock ticks closer to your graduation day, employers everywhere prepare for the workforce stampede ignited by the class of 2016. Surely, you’ve already built a fine looking resume, and you’re eager to jumpstart the process and hit the job trail, but one of the very first realizations you’ll discover is that standing out amongst your peers can be difficult.

Showcasing your multidimensional skillset is vital to keeping yourself ahead of the pack, and one of the best ways to do so is creating an online portfolio. These days, everyone needs to have a properly maintained presence on the web, especially during the interview process. In fact, 52 percent of employers use social networking sites to research candidates, and that number is likely much higher when it comes to simply Googling a candidate’s name. So here’s three reasons why an online portfolio can only benefit your job search.

Creative Freedom

Sadly, one pitfall of a resume is that it does nothing to convey your personality or creativity. On the other hand, the layout for your portfolio could be stylized in many different ways, and can include a bio, a picture of yourself, your resume and various links demonstrating your work on past projects, writing samples, recommendations or videos. Visitors to your site will have the opportunity to learn much more about you through the content that you’ve constructed, and begin engaging with your professional persona before they’ve even met you in person.

Versatility

The beauty of a digital portfolio is that it’s applicable to virtually any field. Contrary to popular belief, its relevance extends far beyond design-related roles. With an opportunity to serve as an all-in-one stop for everything you desire to showcase, there’s no excuse for you not to have one, no matter what your field your focus is. With just the click of a button, you can upload your newest content and track your growth as a professional.

With the chance to join the 7 percent of job seekers who actually have an online portfolio, there’s an enormous opportunity here to separate yourself from the pack. With free services and hosting sites at your disposal, like WordPress or Wix, you can alleviate a lot of the maintenance that comes with purchasing your own web address, and can have your portfolio up and running in just minutes. Make it genuine and unique to your personality, after all, this is your chance to impress everyone who takes a gander at it.